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You are here: Home / Life in General / The Power of Imagination

The Power of Imagination

May 10, 2011 by Bob Borson 10 Comments

The question for today is what is a fact and what is truth and how are they different? In my opinion, this is one of those questions that cannot be answered for the masses because the simple definition of the words won’t get you where you want to be – there will always be room for interpretation. It’s 85 degrees outside, that is hot. 85 degrees outside is a fact but is it true that 85 degrees is hot? I suppose that depends on a few things unique to the individual doing the interpreting.

I am a creative person, constantly looking at the things around me, searching for intrinsic qualities. As an artist who is bound to, and functions within, certain scientific parameters (i.e. gravity AND building codes), a great deal of what I do cannot be measure purely by right and wrong, fact or fiction, yes or no.

Whenever there is room for interpretation, there are those of us who exist between the lines – the world of maybe.

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imagination cloud 01

Take a look at these pictures … Do you see Cumulus clouds? Maybe they’re Cumulonimbus clouds. I don’t know. Either way that’s not what I see when I look at clouds. Clouds are water. As you probably know, we can find water in three forms: liquid, solid and gas. Water as a gas is called water vapor. Clouds form when water vapor turns back into liquid water droplets, and that is called condensation. It happens in one of two ways: when the air cools enough, or when enough water vapor is added to the air.

I was in Denver over the weekend and took some pictures of clouds while experimenting with my camera. That picture above – you know what kind of cloud that is? It’s a turtle cloud – more specifically, it’s a Leatherback turtle … pretty sure about that one … although it could be a Ridley turtle.

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imagination cloud 02

That is definitely a gazelle or some sort of antelope. It looks like it has a skeleton head, complete with eye socket but no eye.

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imagination cloud 03

I’m thinking baby elephant head with jellyfish body? Man, these are starting to get hard…

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imagination cloud 04

… a weasel at the top with a lion in the center towards the bottom? Could be a manatee to the bottom left ….

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imagination cloud 05

Since I took this picture, I know I wasn’t in space looking down towards earth but now I am starting to wonder… maybe I’m underwater looking up through the sea foam?

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imagination cloud 06

A chain of islands creating a cove with a blue whale in the middle. Totally nailed that one. For sure.

..

Given the same facts and figures, people will always process and interpret information in a way that makes sense to them, their experiences, their mores and values. After suggesting some things that you might see in these clouds, I’m sure you might be able to see what I am describing – although I feel more confident that you are seeing things slightly different than I am – despite the fact that we are looking at the same pictures. I told you what I saw in those pictures – and that’s the truth.

Today’s topic was brought to you as part of a series called a “blog off” where several people are given a topic and subject title and they all write on that topic on the same day. It’s a fun exercise given the loose parameters that are established. Feel free to swing by any of these other participants web sites to see what spin they put on today’s topic.

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Filed Under: Life in General, Observations Tagged With: design, Let's Blog Off

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The complimentary advice provided on ‘Life of an Architect’ is based on an abbreviated examination of the minimal facts given, not the typical extensive (and sometimes exhaustive) analysis I conduct when working with my clients. Therefore, anything you read on this site is not a substitute for actually working with me. Following my casual advice is at your own peril … if you want my undivided attention, I would recommend hiring me. Cheers.

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